Upper Lynde Basin Dam dam
Upper Lynde Basin Dam
The Upper Lynde Basin Dam, located in Sterling, Massachusetts, was completed in 1924 and stands at a height of 15 feet with a hydraulic height of 12 feet. It is classified as an Earth dam with a Buttress core type and is situated on Lynde Brook. The dam has a storage capacity of 65 acre-feet, with a normal storage level of 44 acre-feet and a surface area of 5.3 acres. The drainage area of the dam is 1.26 square miles, making it a crucial water resource for the area.
Managed by the Department of Conservation and Recreation, the Upper Lynde Basin Dam is state regulated, permitted, inspected, and enforced, ensuring its safety and compliance with regulations. The dam has a significant hazard potential and has been assessed to be in poor condition as of the last inspection in November 2017. Despite its moderate risk level, the dam plays a vital role in water management and conservation efforts in the region.
With its historical significance and importance in water resource management, the Upper Lynde Basin Dam serves as a key infrastructure for the community. As climate change continues to impact water resources, the maintenance and upkeep of this dam are essential to safeguarding the surrounding environment and ensuring the continued supply of water for various purposes. Enthusiasts of water resources and climate issues will find the Upper Lynde Basin Dam to be a fascinating case study in the intersection of infrastructure, regulation, and environmental stewardship.
Dam data reference
Condition Assessment
- Satisfactory
- No existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. Acceptable performance is expected under all loading conditions (static, hydrologic, seismic) in accordance with the minimum applicable state or federal regulatory criteria or tolerable risk guidelines.
- Fair
- No existing dam safety deficiencies are recognized for normal operating conditions. Rare or extreme hydrologic and/or seismic events may result in a dam safety deficiency. Risk may be in the range to take further action.
- Poor
- A dam safety deficiency is recognized for normal operating conditions which may realistically occur. Remedial action is necessary. POOR may also be used when uncertainties exist as to critical analysis parameters which identify a potential dam safety deficiency.
- Unsatisfactory
- A dam safety deficiency is recognized that requires immediate or emergency remedial action for problem resolution.
- Not Rated
- The dam has not been inspected, is not under state or federal jurisdiction, or has been inspected but, for whatever reason, has not been rated.
Hazard Potential Classification
- High
- Dams assigned the high hazard potential classification are those where failure or mis-operation will probably cause loss of human life.
- Significant
- Dams assigned the significant hazard potential classification are those dams where failure or mis-operation results in no probable loss of human life but can cause economic loss, environmental damage, disruption of lifeline facilities, or impact other concerns. Significant hazard potential classification dams are often located in predominantly rural or agricultural areas but could be in areas with population and significant infrastructure.
- Low
- Dams assigned the low hazard potential classification are those where failure or mis-operation results in no probable loss of human life and low economic and/or environmental losses. Losses are principally limited to the owner's property.
- Undetermined
- Dams for which a downstream hazard potential has not been designated or is not provided.
Plan around the weather
Same NOAA / yr.no feed Snoflo's iOS app uses. Watch the precipitation column on the meteogram -- rain on the basin upstream typically lifts inflow 24-72 hours later.
Next 5 days, hour by hour
Temperature line with weather symbols on top, snow + rain accumulation as columns, humidity as a dotted line.
5-day forecast table
Every 3 hours, broken out across temperature, snow, rain, humidity, and wind. Each cell is colour-coded relative to the column min/max.
| Time | Condition | Temp (°F) | Snow (in) | Rain (in) | Humidity (%) | Wind (mps) | Wind dir |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loading detailed forecast… | |||||||
15-day temperature & precipitation
Daily temperatures, snow, and rain projected over the next two weeks.
Nearby streamflow gauges
USGS streamgauges around Upper Lynde Basin Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| North Nashua River Near Leominster | 149 cfs | → |
| Stillwater River Near Sterling | 22 cfs | → |
| North Nashua River At Fitchburg | 101 cfs | → |
| Quinapoxet River At Canada Mills Near Holden | 27 cfs | → |
| Squannacook River Near West Groton | 83 cfs | → |
| Ware River Near Barre | 91 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Upper Lynde Basin Dam.
Boat launches
- Whalom Lake Public Boat Ramp
- Sewell Drive Shrewsbury
- Harvard Road 314, Stow
- Tamarack Lane 37, Shrewsbury
- Bartlett Street 152, Northborough
- Emerald Bracelet, Northborough
Track Upper Lynde Basin Dam in the Snoflo app
Save this dam as a favorite and get the local NOAA / yr.no forecast plus regional flow context wherever you are.
About Upper Lynde Basin Dam
Where does the data for Upper Lynde Basin Dam come from?
Structural and regulatory data come from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' National Inventory of Dams (NID). Weather forecast comes from NOAA / yr.no -- the same feed Snoflo's iOS app uses.
How often is the report updated?
NID structural data refreshes annually as the Corps publishes updated assessments. The weather forecast refreshes throughout the day.
What does the Significant hazard rating mean?
The Corps of Engineers' hazard potential classification grades probable consequences if the dam fails: High = probable loss of human life; Significant = no probable loss of human life but possible economic loss / environmental damage; Low = no probable loss of human life, only minor economic / environmental losses. See the Dam Data Reference card above for the full definitions.
What's "% of normal"?
The current storage value compared to the historical average storage on this calendar day. 100% = right on average; values above 100% mean above-normal storage (wet year); values below mean below-normal (dry year or drought).
Can I get alerts when storage crosses a threshold?
Yes -- alerts are managed in the Snoflo iOS app. Favorite this dam, set a threshold, and you'll get a push the moment conditions cross.
Other water bodies near here
Snoflo-tracked reservoirs and dams within driving distance of Upper Lynde Basin Dam.